A friend wants to perform strange religious rituals on you for your health to improve. Do you let them?

My last roommate practiced Wicca. We were very respectful of each others beliefs and differences. She was incredible and explained some of her beliefs to me. I listened and learned a lot and was never scared of her.

Gno is right, witches aren't bad or scary people at all and most of them simply believe in the power of the earth's energy rather than a spiritual god. I'm not clear on what your beliefs are, Michelle, but I'm a Christian and I would probably be hesitant to have a ritual performed on me. The only way I would be able to let a friend perform any kind of ritual on me is if my friend explained in detail her belief and reasoning behind why she wants to perform that particular ritual, exactly what to expect during the ritual and specifically what the desired affects are.

If what my friend says doesn't scare me or make me nervous, then I'd ask for a day or two to think about it and do a little research of my own. If you feel uncomfortable at all with the ritual itself or if you are too conflicted because of your own beliefs, don't do it. The last thing your friend wants to do is make you uncomfortable or upset in any way.

Quite the contrary, he/she wants to help, but knowing or realizing that you really aren't comfortable with it, but are doing it just to appease him/her, could send the signal that you don't take his/her religious beliefs seriously. Since that's most likely not the case, it's best to be honest with your friend. Listen to all the reasons, everything that's expected to happen and the desired outcome, think about it, research it - allow yourself to see your friend's point of view by setting aside your beliefs ONLY long enough to understand your friend's beliefs - then, taking your beliefs into consideration, decide what you'd be comfortable with and tell your friend.

He/She should respect your decision without being hurt by it, if for no other reason then because your religions differ. By learning about your friend's beliefs and religion, you're not betraying your own religion, but simply learning. There is nothing wrong with learning about another religion.

If anything, it should strengthen your own beliefs. Be true to yourself and what you believe, just don't discount your friend's beliefs while upholding yours.

Go with your gut. I am probably of a similar spiritual persuasion to your friend who wants to perform rituals. And I can tell you that these rituals really require you to have an open mind and accept healing energy.

If you doubt yourself, if you doubt what you're doing then you're closing yourself off. If you're talking about witchcraft, then you should know a few basic principles that hopefully debunk some worries or myths: 1. Just because someone performs a ritual with/on/for you, that doesn't mean you're "converted".2.

Witches don't recruit. They don't preach.3. Witches don't worship the devil.

They don't worship evil. White witchcraft has NOTHING to do with the devil. In fact, they don't even believe in the "devil".

It is nothing dark or bad. Only positivity, energy, nature, and the universe. (Not so far from mainstream religions, eh?) 4.

Almost all witches believe in god(s) in some form or another. Almost all are loving, positive, spiritual people.5. Most witchcraft draws from the power of the earth and the universe.

If in your religion you ever felt a sense of connectivity to the world and beyond, then maybe this isn't such a far reach to imagine tapping into this for healthy energy? But really, you have to do what YOU feel comfortable with. If you really think it goes against your religious beliefs then don't force it.

The ritual is supposed to be a positive and uplifting experience. If it'll be anything else for you, then you should decline. But personally, I'm rooting for you to give it a shot!

The universe may just impress you.

If they want to perform 'strange religious rituals' on me... well they can forget it. Would I tell them so bluntly? Well maybe not if they are my friend.

I'd thank them for the offer and say its not for me. I'd only really become more insistent if they ignored my request. If they wanted to tell me about them, or explain what they are thats fine.

I love a good story and I'm willing to listen and learn about what they believe. I'm all for sharing and learning but if those rituals couldn't fit within the frameworks of my beliefs then thats where I would draw the line. Its the difference between learning about something and actively being involved in doing it.

And whilst as you say its unlikely to hurt me physically I would be concerned that it may be damaging spiritually.

First of all, I'm an agnostic, so I really don't have religious objections here. As for my answer, depends on what the rituals are. If it's something like my standing around while the friend prays or meditates or recites something, sure, I'll go along with it.

I won't believe it'll help, but what harm can it do? I'd also be reluctant, but willing to do things like participate in ceremonies or whatnot. However, I draw the line at anything that involves ingesting things / actually doing something substantial myself.

Things like this can actually make my health worse.

I don't really subscribe to the logic that I shouldn't mind just because I believe they won't do anything. My friend is wasting my time and believing in things that I think are not just false, but stupid. I would tell them to perform their rituals quietly in their own home without bothering me and ruining my workflow.

I may also caution them against bringing the topic up again.

No, I would not encourage my friend in her mistaken beliefs, I don't care how much better it made her feel. I believe that any spiritual power that does not come from God comes from Satan, and that those who practice Wicca and other occult religions that attempt to draw power from "nature" or the"universe" and not directly from God are unknowingly serving the devil, even if they don't claim to worship him.

It all depends, and how you feel about the situation. If nothing else is working, then yes. What can it hurt?

You need to think this through, you will know what the right answer is.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.